At 56, she said 'ciao' to unhappiness and found her 'life's calling' in Italy

Get the latest from TODAY

Sign up for our newsletter

Oct. 14, 2016 / 8:00 AM GMT / Updated Aug. 4, 2014 / 1:53 PM GMT

By KLG and Hoda

In collaboration with Huff/Post 50, we’re doing a three-day series featuring some of the most inspiring people who are 50 and over, from risk-takers to people who have completely reinvented themselves.

It wasn't until Lisa Condie was well into her 50s that she decided it was time for her to truly live.

The mother of two had previously devoted her life to raising her children while leading a successful career in the fitness industry. More recently, Condie went through a divorce with her husband of 23 years.

Shortly after, she took a two-week vacation to Italy with her daughter and that's when everything changed. Condie realized that for the first time in a long time, she felt truly joyful surrounded by the Italian culture. As they headed to the airport to go back to the United States, Condie made a bold declaration.

"Climbing into the taxi, I looked at my daughter and said, 'I will come back here to live,'" she said.

Today

Though nothing seemed logical about her decision to leave behind her life in Salt Lake City, Condie took the plunge. She sold her house and most of her possessions and bought a one-way ticket to Tuscany.

"There were people who really cheered me on and supported my decision to pick up and move," she said. "Others thought I lost my marbles."

Even though Condie didn't know a word of Italian or a single person in Italy, she felt confident in her decision as soon as the plane touched down.

"As I began to explore this magical city, I found myself feeling more at home and alive than I had felt in years," she said.

While blogging about her experience, other women reached out to her desiring to experience Tuscany as she was doing. She decided to welcome them to her new hometown by creating a boutique luxury tour company with a friend called "A Better Way to Italy."

Today

Besides tours that would show women Condie's favorite sites of the city, the program also includes seminars on intuition, courage, finding passions and other lessons that, in her 50s, Condie is now fully grasping.

It has now been two years since she packed up her belongings and moved to Europe, and Condie feels as if she is living her life's calling.

"While every chapter in our life comes with challenges and curve balls," Condie said, "every woman can find a way to be joyful.